Thursday, March 29, 2012
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Remembering & Imagining
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Enjoy The Ride,
Cecil
Follow on Twitter: @FirstCOG
Enjoy The Ride,
Cecil
Monday, March 26, 2012
Practice of Ministry
As a shepherd-leader it is crucial that I appropriate a biblical framework (Ephesians 6:10-20). I must have a sense of purpose, a workable plan, a commitment to prayer, and consistency of participation. The key part is to find the balance with Spirit and form between organization and inspiration. A vision and mission statement for the individual, family, and church is helpful in staying focused.
The minister needs to assume a stance of leadership within the Biblical context as outlined in 1 Peter 5:1 and Romans 12:8. I must be an example for the people entrusted to me and remain diligent in the work of the Lord. There are various styles of leadership and different situations might require different styles. For the most part I believe my style is a hybrid of the consultative and participative styles. I want to be able to make the people around me better and help them get to the next level in the Lord and in ministry.
My style is not to micro-manage but to cast the vision for the church and motivate and encourage leadership team and congregation to be the agents of advancing the vision. At the same time, everyone is accountable to each other and God for the work entrusted with them. Time is passing us by and we need to be productive in doing His work. That does not mean failure is not accepted because I rather have people on my team that is willing to try and fail and learn from the experience than people who are not willing to try at all. In a new environment, I might need to be more directive and show people what to do or how to do it, but as time passes I would ideally back off and let them do the work while I provide guidance and encouragement. Having a high-performance team with a common purpose, appropriate roles, accepted leadership, effective plans and methodologies, solid relationships, and excellent communication is imperative for a minister to realize the God-given vision for the church.
Activating fellowship is another activity the minister needs to accomplish to fulfill the meaning of ministry. Jesus gave the perfect example in Matthew 16:24-28. As a minister, I need to identify and enlist people into ministry, motivate people to share the good news, educate people through teaching the Word of God, and call lives for dedication to God.
A minister needs to accent ministry priorities by gearing things toward evangelism, discipleship, and worship. I need to facilitate personal spiritual growth by reaching people for Christ, nurturing them into a deeper relationship with God, and involving them in ministry. I need to accent the ministry priorities predicated on the centrality of worship services, developed through therapeutic preaching, and a staff attitude of humility and servant hood.
As a minister I need to aspire to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. It exists to influence people with the intention to move people from lower to higher planes. The test of the proclamation is the changes that occur in the lives of people.
Enjoy The Ride,
Cee
The minister needs to assume a stance of leadership within the Biblical context as outlined in 1 Peter 5:1 and Romans 12:8. I must be an example for the people entrusted to me and remain diligent in the work of the Lord. There are various styles of leadership and different situations might require different styles. For the most part I believe my style is a hybrid of the consultative and participative styles. I want to be able to make the people around me better and help them get to the next level in the Lord and in ministry.
My style is not to micro-manage but to cast the vision for the church and motivate and encourage leadership team and congregation to be the agents of advancing the vision. At the same time, everyone is accountable to each other and God for the work entrusted with them. Time is passing us by and we need to be productive in doing His work. That does not mean failure is not accepted because I rather have people on my team that is willing to try and fail and learn from the experience than people who are not willing to try at all. In a new environment, I might need to be more directive and show people what to do or how to do it, but as time passes I would ideally back off and let them do the work while I provide guidance and encouragement. Having a high-performance team with a common purpose, appropriate roles, accepted leadership, effective plans and methodologies, solid relationships, and excellent communication is imperative for a minister to realize the God-given vision for the church.
Activating fellowship is another activity the minister needs to accomplish to fulfill the meaning of ministry. Jesus gave the perfect example in Matthew 16:24-28. As a minister, I need to identify and enlist people into ministry, motivate people to share the good news, educate people through teaching the Word of God, and call lives for dedication to God.
A minister needs to accent ministry priorities by gearing things toward evangelism, discipleship, and worship. I need to facilitate personal spiritual growth by reaching people for Christ, nurturing them into a deeper relationship with God, and involving them in ministry. I need to accent the ministry priorities predicated on the centrality of worship services, developed through therapeutic preaching, and a staff attitude of humility and servant hood.
As a minister I need to aspire to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. It exists to influence people with the intention to move people from lower to higher planes. The test of the proclamation is the changes that occur in the lives of people.
Enjoy The Ride,
Cee
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
IMAGINE
Our media team created this video clip to capture the essence of being part of First COG Community Worship Service.
IMAGINE
Enjoy The Ride,
Cecil
IMAGINE
Enjoy The Ride,
Cecil
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
What Ministry Means to Me?
The ultimate reason for ministry is the creator – God. He created us to worship Him which is a ministry on its own. Extending ministry into this world is driven by the commandment clearly laid out for His children in the Gospel of Matthew chapter 28. We as disciples of Jesus Christ have the power, responsibility, and authority to step out into our world and share the good news of Jesus Christ. Ministry is being a disciple of Jesus Christ and becoming a “discipler” for Jesus Christ.
The two constants in this formula of ministry are God and people. Some of the variables in this formula could be derived from the various spiritual gifts God invests in His children, levels of commitment to service, and locale or community to serve.
I believe being in the ministry for God is being a servant-leader. In my upward relationship with God, I am a servant to His calling and direction while being a leader in the work of expanding and building up His Kingdom – one life at a time. Simultaneously, in my inward relationship with His people, I am there to serve (minister) to the needs of the people while leading and encouraging them into a deeper spiritual life with Jesus Christ. In my outward relationship with the world, I am here to serve the dying generation the message of eternal life through Jesus Christ while leading them through an exemplary lifestyle of integrity and holiness in God.
As prescribed in Ephesians 4:11 through 16, as a leader I have the responsibility to prepare people to do the work of ministry in the context of the local church and equip the body of Christ to do the work of the ministry in the world. Throughout the Scriptures the characteristics of a minister are outlined for study and practical application.
A minister is a leader who is a disciple. As a disciple I have to possess a concern for the lost (Psalms 126:5-6) and study the scriptures consistently and persistently and trust it to be a power source. The Holy Spirit should be the pilot of my daily walk in this world (Romans 8:14-16).
A minister is a shepherd-leader who is a concerned caretaker (Matthew 18:12-13), an experienced modeler, productive mentor, disciplined director, and exemplary administrator (1 Timothy 3:5). In such a role, I need to be consistent in faith, love, and endurance and be reminded that I have been divinely called (Hebrews 3:1). The divine call compels me to function out of necessity to fulfill the mandate on my life for Him.
A minister is a leader who is an agent of spiritual change (Acts 2:40-47). In ministry I need to change those around me by being kind, honoring others above themselves (humility), accepting each person as important (Romans 12:15-16a), serving in love, carrying another’s burdens, accepting others for who they are (Romans 15:7), and demonstrating forgiveness.
Enjoy The Ride,
Cecil
The two constants in this formula of ministry are God and people. Some of the variables in this formula could be derived from the various spiritual gifts God invests in His children, levels of commitment to service, and locale or community to serve.
I believe being in the ministry for God is being a servant-leader. In my upward relationship with God, I am a servant to His calling and direction while being a leader in the work of expanding and building up His Kingdom – one life at a time. Simultaneously, in my inward relationship with His people, I am there to serve (minister) to the needs of the people while leading and encouraging them into a deeper spiritual life with Jesus Christ. In my outward relationship with the world, I am here to serve the dying generation the message of eternal life through Jesus Christ while leading them through an exemplary lifestyle of integrity and holiness in God.
As prescribed in Ephesians 4:11 through 16, as a leader I have the responsibility to prepare people to do the work of ministry in the context of the local church and equip the body of Christ to do the work of the ministry in the world. Throughout the Scriptures the characteristics of a minister are outlined for study and practical application.
A minister is a leader who is a disciple. As a disciple I have to possess a concern for the lost (Psalms 126:5-6) and study the scriptures consistently and persistently and trust it to be a power source. The Holy Spirit should be the pilot of my daily walk in this world (Romans 8:14-16).
A minister is a shepherd-leader who is a concerned caretaker (Matthew 18:12-13), an experienced modeler, productive mentor, disciplined director, and exemplary administrator (1 Timothy 3:5). In such a role, I need to be consistent in faith, love, and endurance and be reminded that I have been divinely called (Hebrews 3:1). The divine call compels me to function out of necessity to fulfill the mandate on my life for Him.
A minister is a leader who is an agent of spiritual change (Acts 2:40-47). In ministry I need to change those around me by being kind, honoring others above themselves (humility), accepting each person as important (Romans 12:15-16a), serving in love, carrying another’s burdens, accepting others for who they are (Romans 15:7), and demonstrating forgiveness.
Enjoy The Ride,
Cecil
Thursday, March 8, 2012
C C C by Mark Evans
Any activity becomes creative, powerful, life changing when the "activity doer" cares about doing it right, or doing it better...
Consider well the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established and ordered aright. Proverbs 4:26
Listen, watch your step today, and the road tomorrow will stretch out smooth before you.
When you are building your God-given dream, working on the plan God has for your life, there will be times when things fail, or even come crashing down around you and you have to rebuild... There may be times when you will face ridicule and even threatening opposition.
The secret to getting through those tough times, the secret to rebuilding, is care and commitment. If you don't care, you won't have the desire, the motivation to carry you through the dark days. If you don't have the commitment, you will give up when you face opposition, and it will never get built.
God needs builders and, at times, re-builders. He will never ask you to build or rebuild on your own. He will always provide the assistance and encouragement you need. However, he does need you to care and commit to seeing it done.
Have you hit a roadblock while in pursuit of your God-given dream? Ask God to renew your care and commitment to the dream and to provide some assistance and encouragement to help you keep going.
Father in Heaven; Forgive me for the times I have not Cared enough to Commit.. Forgive me for my failures that might have been Victories.. Today I Care! Today I Commit! Tomorrow I will Conquer! In Jesus strength.. Amen.
Enjoy the Ride,
Cecil
Consider well the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established and ordered aright. Proverbs 4:26
Listen, watch your step today, and the road tomorrow will stretch out smooth before you.
When you are building your God-given dream, working on the plan God has for your life, there will be times when things fail, or even come crashing down around you and you have to rebuild... There may be times when you will face ridicule and even threatening opposition.
The secret to getting through those tough times, the secret to rebuilding, is care and commitment. If you don't care, you won't have the desire, the motivation to carry you through the dark days. If you don't have the commitment, you will give up when you face opposition, and it will never get built.
God needs builders and, at times, re-builders. He will never ask you to build or rebuild on your own. He will always provide the assistance and encouragement you need. However, he does need you to care and commit to seeing it done.
Have you hit a roadblock while in pursuit of your God-given dream? Ask God to renew your care and commitment to the dream and to provide some assistance and encouragement to help you keep going.
When You Care, You Commit, Then You Can Conquer!
Father in Heaven; Forgive me for the times I have not Cared enough to Commit.. Forgive me for my failures that might have been Victories.. Today I Care! Today I Commit! Tomorrow I will Conquer! In Jesus strength.. Amen.
Enjoy the Ride,
Cecil
Monday, March 5, 2012
Daniels Courage In Captivity
The church was privileged to serve the families and kids of the community once again this year through the Winter Vacation Bible School. A special thank you to the leaders and all the volunteers that help make it a blessing to the children and their families. Numerous weeks of preparation for three days of ministry and service with love ... it's worth it. Here is a look back at the journey of Daniel in Babylon ...
(Thanks to the media team for this production.)
See you all next year!
Enjoy The ride,
Cecil
(Thanks to the media team for this production.)
See you all next year!
Enjoy The ride,
Cecil
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